The goal of this mod is to add a third playable pirate race to Homeworld 2, as well as implement minor universal gameplay changes and add additional ships to the existing hiigaran and vaygr navies. This modis not meant to challenge or create existing HW2 canon, is merely for everyone's enjoyment.

The gameplay of the mod is already complete and playable, and features a functioning pirate AI, so you can play against a pirate CPU in multiplayer!

Features already included in the mod:
New models
New weapons
New maps
New gamemodes
New sound fx
New music
Fuctioning Pirate AI

Features in the works:
More models
More maps
More gamemodes
New voices
More Piratey goodness

By the way as Pirates, could each Hiigaran Carrier the Pirates capture become a Bataraia's Hammer?
Not right away since it would still be a Hiigaran Carrir but there could possible be a way to turn it into Bataraia's Hammer.
Maybe by removing each subsystem the Pirates don't have?
If they don't use advanced research modules then it could be the thing to remove.
As the ship is tranformed into Bataraia's Hammer each module is turned into the Pirate's counterpart.
It's very possible that they use the same modules as the Hiigarans but I don't know and if it's the case maybe there's a other solution to turn a Hiigaran Carrier into Bataraia's Hammer.

i have some experimental Build files, but considering how the pirates have two motherships in a sense and they will be on par Power wise. i would like to stay away from that. now being able to replace them might make its way in. but i am still on the fence about that.

How about making a maximum number of supply for a such ship and if you capture a Hiigaran carrier, if the supply is used it will stay as Hiigaran but if the real one gets destroyed the Hiigaran Carrier is turned into Bataria´s Hammer, recycling each subsystem the pirates don't have and this would also support with money.
If they don't have, they'll get it.
Also this way will allow them to make backups in a limited way as it's only the Hiigaran Carrier that can be used.

What's new on the modding scene? Well, ModDB is the number one place to showcase mods now. RelicNews is still the place to go for talking about mods and getting help with modding though. There are several new mod tools, and updates to older tools. CFHodED is in version 4.0.2.4 for example.

You should have a look at these mods. Lots of new scripting, game rules, models, and general ideas can be found in them:

"The Homeworld Universe Mod (Project) is trying to gather the best of the HW2 communities' work, and put it all in one mod."
now THAT would be facinating.
I saw good works, great ones,
but each has a lack another fills.
all the amazing mods mixed up...
I cannot wait.

well in the time it would take to dissect those mods. (which i personally do not want to as i feel its a form of plagiarism.) i think i can learn to mod HW2 again and find a new 3D modeling program. Then start playing with ideas i have in the Hw2 engine !